Fulco di Verdura, master of jewels

Elegant and distinctly original, Verdura jewelry has been coveted by royalty and high society for nearly 70 years. More than any other designer of the 20th century, Duke Fulco di Verdura elevated jewelry to the status of an art form. His creation were inspired by classical patterns and natural forms, brightened with intense colors and infused with a sophisticated wit that Verdura displayed throughout his intensely creative life. 

Louvre buys Empress Eugénie's brooch

The Louvre museum in Paris has bought the diamond brooch that is among the few exquisite pieces of the French crown jewels. The diamond-encrusted brooch was made in 19th century by Parisian jeweler Francois Kramer, who designed it specially for the Empress Eugénie, wife of Napoleon III. Shaped like a bow, the elegant brooch features two dangling tassels and 2,634 pink and white diamonds, weighing more than 140 carats. The piece will be soon displayed in Louvre's Apollon Gallery.

Ilias Lalaounis - 5 generations of joaillerie

Ilias Lalaounis has a jewelry tradition that spans five generations. Lalaounis creations represent a synthesis of past and present, a unique interpretation of ancient civilization. Influences as diverse as the Neolithic Age, Mycenaean Art, the Byzantine as well as the nature have all inspired the Lalaounis collections. Age-old techniques such as granulation, filigree, hand-hammering and repousse are used in creating the exquisite and distinctive hand-crafted Lalaounis jewelry.

La Campanina of Alberto e Lina - jewelers of Capri

Founded in 1950, La Campanina follows a tradition which had been passed down from father to son. The boutique located in Capri is famous for its interesting window displays where beautiful jewelry pieces decorate the windows in the most unique and exciting way. La Campanina of Alberto and Lina still remains the preferred venue where the Italian and International jet set choose to meet, constituting a veritable symbol of Caprian savoir faire.

Boucheron' s 150th anniversary

To commemorate its 150th anniversary, the mastermind of fine jewelry Boucheron has designed a beautiful collection. The Gourmand necklace, as shown above, depicts the glimmer of coloring and the fine geometry of fruits. The white-gold piece is composed of shiny sapphires, which play the lead role in the necklace, and is accompanied with a mix of pink, mauve, yellow-orange stones that add more glamour to the fabulous necklace.

Repossi - jewelry for the royalty

Founded in 1920 by G. Pietro Repossi, Repossi Joailliers is known as the official supplier for the Prince Rainier III of Monaco. The Italian atelier uses the traditional techniques of the goldsmith's trade of Renaissance in order to preserve the majesty of the pieces. As well as designing truly spectacular and glamorous pieces geared towards the royalty, Repossi also provides a more younger and trendy line designed by Gaia Repossi, the 4th generation of the jewelry house. The collection Ere Repossi, designed by Gaia Repossi and Eugénie Niarchos, has a more younger taste when compared to Repossi's traditional designs of haute jewelry. Prices for these eclectic pieces of hand-made jewelry range from $500 for gold lace studs to $50,000 for a gold and rose-cut diamond bracelet.

Köechert Jewellers of Vienna

Retailer to royalty, A.E. Köechert was the jeweller to the Habsburgs, the Austrian royal family, from 1814. Housed in a 16th century building, it is now run by the 6th generation of the founding family. In the creation of Köechert jewelry, only the selected materials that fully meet their many high quality standards are used. Each individual piece of jewelry that leaves the Köechert goldsmiths' workshop bears this mark of quality in the form of AEK - an assurance that the piece conforms with the strict demands of the house Köechert has placed on masterful craftsmanship and stylistic clarity for nearly 200 years.

Wiener Werkståtte Jewelry - must visit at Neue Gallery

The Wiener Werkståtte Jewelry was established in 1903 by Josef Hoffmann and Koloman Moser, who shared a belief that jewelry should be valued for its artistic merit. On march 26th, Manhattan's Neue Gallery, opened the exhibition for the Wiener Werkståtte Jewelry and will be on view through June 30, 2008. The exhibition highlights masterpieces created by the Wiener Werkståtte between 1903-1920. It features significant pieces by Josef Hoffmann, Koloman Moser, Carl Otto Czeschka, Dagobert Peche and other prominent artists. 

Hilat - Jewelry that speaks the ancient times

Istanbul's Hilat Jewelry is created by people who are deeply in love with the ancient art of Anatolia. Valued goldsmiths craft each piece with the admiration they have towards utilizing historical remains left by ancient empires such as the Byzantium and the great Ottoman Empire. Hilat Jewelry differs from other ancient/antique looking jewelry because goldsmiths use solid gold by hand, which they believe it to be the best material to carry out the beauty of the Classical world to the present time. Established in 1971, Hilat exhibits its collections in the historic peninsula of Istanbul, a city full of beautiful remains from the 7th century B.C. onwards.

Urart' s inspiration from ancient civilizations

Urart presents the unique past with the opportunities of modern age through creative inspiration. The artistic approach Urart has introduced to the jewelry craftsmanship is maintained and developed by artworks of artisans for the past 32 years. The company has recently won the gold prize at the South Sea Pearl Jewelry Design with this exceptional piece above.

Joailleire, Louis XIV' s way of playing with diamonds

Louis XIV saw the diamond as a perfect natural complement to the dazzling displays of style and opulence he favored: the diamond was the precious stone of choice for sparkly, glamorous reign. At the grandest soirees at Versailles, the King expected his courtiers to wear diamonds but no man or woman has ever dared to show of more diamond than than the King. Joaillerie, jewelry making raised to the status of fine art during Louis XIV' s reign. Joailliers invent the designs that revolutionize the way jewelry is made and transform the way jewels are worn; they create works of art rather than mass-produced ornaments. Louis XIV surely was an admirer of diamond, by demanding his artisans to craft his personal objects with diamonds. Above are Louis' inkstand and cup from his collection of jewels. 

The Sun King's French Blue

The 45.52 carat blue Hope Diamond was found in India as a rough crystal weighing 112 carats. It first came to light when Jean Baptiste Tavernier, noted French traveler of the 17th century, purchased the stone and smuggled it to Paris, where he later sold it to Louis XIV. It was cut there into a triangular pear shaped stone weighing 67.50 carats and was then known as the French Blue or the Tavernier Blue. Louis gave the stone to Madame Montespan, his mistress, who soon went to royal discard and the stone was lost now. The diamond disappeared, and for many years it was not heard. Above is Tavernier's diagram of the diamond.

King of diamonds

The only truly great collection of royal jewelry, was the collection amassed by Louis XIV. By the end of his reign, in 1715, the French crown jewels constituted by far the richest collection in the West. The Sun King realized that the diamond could be more effective than any other stone in demonstrating to the world the extent of his power, rank and artistic taste. Christ at the column; from Louis XIV' s collection of jewelry.